Key Points
- Havering Council’s Cabinet formally voted on 11 June 2025 to grant village green status to Platford Green and Tyle Green, including Garland Way in Emerson Park.
- This landmark move means these green spaces will be preserved ‘in perpetuity’ and protected from any future development.
- Dedication ceremonies for the new village greens, Platford Green and Tees Drive, are scheduled for July 2025, building upon a longstanding pledge from the Council.
- Councillor Graham Williamson, Cabinet Member for Development and Regeneration, expressed pride at fulfilling a manifesto promise to safeguard green spaces.
- Five other village greens in Havering were dedicated in 2024, celebrating a borough-wide initiative to protect community spaces.
- Residents and local councillors plan further events to recognise the importance of these areas to local well-being and cohesion.
- Community voices, including long-term local residents, highlight the significance of the protections and improvements made.
- Additional dedications for earlier designated green spaces are planned for the summer of 2025.
The milestone dedication of Platford Village Green in Emerson Park marks a significant step in the London Borough of Havering’s continuing commitment to green space preservation, with ceremonies and testimonials from both council leaders and residents underscoring the social and environmental value of these community assets.
What decision did the Havering Council make about Platford Village Green?
As reported by the Havering Daily’s news team, Havering Council’s Cabinet members voted at a meeting on Wednesday, 11 June 2025, to begin the process of registering Platford Green and Tyle Green—covered along with Garland Way in Emerson Park—as official village greens. This decision follows voluntary council action as the landowner, kickstarting the registration required to permanently protect the spaces from any future development.
The same decision also applied to Tees Drive and Priory Road, including Carter’s Brook in Harold Hill, evidencing a borough-wide commitment that aligns with the council’s ongoing green space strategy. The voluntary registration, once formally completed, will enshrine protection for Platford Green “in perpetuity,” removing the threat of construction or non-green usage and ensuring the land remains accessible for generations to come.
Why is village green status significant for Emerson Park and the wider borough?
According to Councillor Graham Williamson, Cabinet Member for Development and Regeneration, in a statement originally provided to The Havering Daily,
“These much-loved green spaces are very important to us and will soon be formally dedicated as Village Greens to join the five existing village greens that we dedicated last year. We promised in our manifesto to create Village Greens and protect them from development for the benefit of all our residents, and I very much look forward to celebrating this milestone over the summer as we continue to deliver on that promise.”
The status means any form of development or repurposing for non-community-focused use is prohibited, giving assurance to local residents and environmental advocates that the borough’s green lungs remain unspoilt and cherished as community assets.
When will dedication ceremonies and community celebrations take place?
As reported by the London Borough of Havering’s official communications team, the dedication of Platford Green and Tyle Green is scheduled for Sunday, 20 July 2025, with parallel events at Tees Drive and Priory Road in Harold Hill set for Saturday, 26 July 2025. These events follow a pattern established in the summer of 2024, when five village greens were dedicated with ceremonies involving council leaders, local residents, and community groups.
Further dedications are also planned for established but previously uncelebrated village greens, including Ongar Way (South Hornchurch), Reed Pond Walk Copse (Rise Park), and Havering-atte-Bower green, with ceremonies running into August 2025.
How does this milestone build on previous green space initiatives in Havering?
As highlighted by The Havering Daily and confirmed in council news reports, the village green dedications form part of a broader effort. In 2024, Havering Borough held celebrations for five much-loved sites—Fleet Close in Upminster, Wennington Green and Village, Hitchin Close and Gooshays Drive in Harold Hill, and Dover’s Corner in Rainham. These actions, underpinned by the local administration’s manifesto commitment, have resulted in a robust framework to protect open spaces across the region.
One year on from these 2024 dedications, the council reflected on the wide-ranging benefits, noting the increase in community usage for events such as litter picks, gardening projects, and informal outdoor activities. Angela King, a Gooshays resident, told the borough:
“It’s lovely to see children enjoying it, playing cricket and rounders, as well as people sitting out there on their work breaks. The new benches have been a very welcome addition this past year. Knowing it is protected for future generations, and how hard we fought for the green, means so much.”
What statements have council leaders made regarding the green space project?
Councillor Graham Williamson, as quoted by both The Havering Daily and official council press releases, underscored the administration’s long-term vision:
“As Havering looks to the future, the dedication of these village greens stands as a testament to this Administration’s commitment to preserving green spaces and fostering that vital sense of community. The success of these initiatives highlights the importance of accessible, well-maintained green spaces for the health and happiness of all residents and I am looking forward to celebrating 2025’s summer of dedications.”
How has the local community responded to the protection and use of these village greens?
According to several official borough and local news updates, the move was widely welcomed by residents and community groups. The greens, even before attaining their formal status, have served as hubs for communal life, fostering both environmental stewardship and neighbourhood cohesion. Dedication events regularly draw residents, councillors, and civic leaders, further embedding these green spaces in the cultural life of Havering.
What does the future hold for Platford Village Green and others in Havering?
Looking forward, the repeated formal commitment of Havering Council, echoed in media reporting and official statements, suggests that further investments in community amenities, environmental enhancements, and public engagement are expected as part of the village greens programme. The upcoming ceremonies not only mark the legal protection of Platford Village Green, but also symbolise the borough’s intent to ensure open, accessible natural spaces for recreation, health, and well-being.
As summer approaches, the community’s attention will be on both the formal events planned for Platford Green and the continued work to champion and care for all Havering’s village greens—landmarks of local pride and longstanding promises kept.
